The Cabinet has approved plans to extend the High Speed Rail from Taipei to
Yilan.

The project is expected to help ease congestion on National Freeway No. 5 and
improve transportation between Taipei and Yilan.... its also aimed at
increasing rail capacity in eastern Taiwan and shortening travel time
between the two areas.

The Railway Bureau says the 60.6-kilometer line will connect Nangang Station
in Taipei with the planned Yilan High Speed Rail Station.... in a journey
expected to take less than half an hour.

The proposal cleared an environmental impact assessment in August of last
year and comprehensive strategy was completed in January this year.

The government has said the project is expected to cost 352-billion N-T, with
the cost of building stations, purchasing trains and acquiring land.

It's currently scheduled to be completed by 2037.

The Railway Bureau estimates that the extension will serve around 27,000
passengers on weekdays and 60,000 on weekends by 2051.